Switch-target.



E. R. TRAMMELL.

SWITCH TARGET. APPLICATION FILED MAY 15,1913.

HIIII l www Era6mu5-Tm/m7ze INVENTOR ATTO R N EY vam" i. FFQE@ SWITCH-TARGET.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, 'ERASMUS R. TRAM- MnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakeland, in the county of Polk and State of Florida, have'invented a new and useful Switch-Target, vof which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in switch targets.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction .of switch targets, more especially that shown and described in Patent No. 1,054,474, granted to me Feb. 25, 1918, and to provide a simple, inexpensive and etlicient switch target designed for use at either curves or straight portions of tracks, and adapted to eliminate positively from the mind et an engineer the doubt which often exists as to the position of the switch with the ordinary form of targets, when the color alone is relied upon to in? dicate the set of the switch, and to render it impossible to mistake one position of the target for another even when the colors fade, or when the target is used on a curve or other position where it is impossible to set an ordinary target so that one color only will be visible on approaching the switch.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment designed particularly for use on curves but adapted to be advantageously employed on straight portions of the track, and capable of forming a shield and or excluding or concealing from view the color ot the narrow horizontal blades or wings when the target is arranged for eX- posing the vertical plate.

The invention also has for its object to improve the construction of lower switch stand targets. and to provide a switch stand target of this character designed especially for use in yards where the lowswitch stands are a necessity and where the high switch stands cannot be used on account of the danger-to switchmen or trainmen when they ride on the side of cars from one switch to an other, and where in yards the switches are. so close together that with the ordinary switch target. it is impossible to see the second target until you areclose enough to look over the first one, and to provide a low switch stand. target equipped with a vertical Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 15, 1913.

atented May 26, 1914..

Serial No. 767,917.

wing or blade adapted to be exposed at the right hand side of one switch stand and at the left hand side or" another, so that the vertical plate of one switch stand will not obscure the other and a clear View of both switch stand targets will be afforded at a distance from the same.

Another object of the invention is to enable switch lights to be alternately located at opposite sides of the switches like the vertical' blades or wings, so that one light will not obscure another and the position of the switch may be clearly seen.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invent-ion.

In the drawing Figure l is an elevation of a lower switch stand target, constructed in accordance with this invention, the narrow vertical plate or wing being eX- posed to view. Fig. 2 is a similar view, illustrating another position of the switch target. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. vFig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the horizontal wings. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the outer portion ot one ofthe hori- Zontal wings, illustrating the arrangement of the lateral extensions or shields.

Like numerals oit' reference designate cor! responding parts in all the figures of the drawing. y

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch target comprises in its construction a' relatively long narrow vertically disposed target plate l and a relatively short narrow horizontal target member com-- posed of two oppositely disposed plates or wings 2 and 3, extending from opposite sides of a vertical rod or shaft t of a switch stand and arranged in the same transverse plane, as clearly illustrateo` in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The horizontal1 wing 2, which may be' constructed of any suitable material, preferably consists of a strip of sheet metal bent at or near the center to form the said wing 2 and to provide a horizontally projecting supporting arm or portion 5, extending outwardly at right angles to the wing 2 and connected therewith by a central attaching por tion 6, curved to fit the adjacent side of the vertical shaft or rod 4 and secured to the same by'horizontal bolts 7 or other suitable fastening devices, which pierce the rod or shaft 4 and secure the wings 2 and 3 to the same. The other wing 3, which is also preferably constructed of sheet metal, is pro vided at its inner end with a curved attaching portion 8 fitted against the shaft 4 at a point opposite the attaching portion 6 of the wing 2 and secured to the shaft by the said bolts 7. The curved attaching portions 6 and 8 of the wings 2 and 3 extend partially around the shaft 4, and the arm 5, which is of substantially the saine length as the wing 2, supports the vertical plate 1 in spaced relation with the vertical shaft 4, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The vertical plate 1, which is secured to the outer portion of the arm 5 by bolts 9, or other suitable fastening devices, preferably extends above and below the said arin and by being arranged in spaced relation with the vertical shaft, the vertical plates of two adjacent switch stand targets are adapted to be exposed at opposite sides of the vertical shafts 4 so that one vertical plate of one switch target will not obscure the vertical plate of the other switch target. This alternate arrangement of the vertical plates at the right and left hand sides of the shafts of the switch stands enable the position of the switches to be accurately ascertained at a distance. The vertical plate and the horizontal wings are designed in practice to be painted in distinctive colors in accordance with the practice of railroads, but the construction of the switch target is such that the position of the same and thc switch operated by the switch stand may be accurately ascertained by the structure and arrangement of the said blade and wings irrespective of the colors thereof. This is particularly advantageous in the low switch stands of yards where the targets are located close to the ground and become coated with dust and dirt in a comparatively short time and where frequent painting is necessary to render the blades or wings distinguishable when color alone is relied upon to determine the position of the target.

The vertical plate and wings of the switch target are adapted to be applied to the shaft of the ordinary switch stands, and the detachable connection of the wings to the stand and the vertical plate to the supporting arm 5 of the wing 2 enable the parts to be read- 55 ily reversed so as to arrange the vertical plate at either side of the shaft 4 in its eX- posed position. The wings and the vertical plate may be constructed of light sheet metal, and when made of such material, they are preferably bent at one of their longitudinal edges to form flanges 10 to stiffen the sheet metal, but the vertical plate and the horizontal wings may be reinforced in any other preferred manner, or be constructed of heavier material when such reinforcing means are desirable.

The upper end 11 of the shaft 4 is constructed in the usual manner to receive a s vitch light, and in order to enable a switch light to be applied to the target at the upper end of the vertical plate 1, the switch target is equipped with a rod or bar 12, secured by rivets 13 or other suitable fastening devices to the vertical plate 1 and eX- tending along the median line thereof to a point where such median line intersects the median line of the supporting arm 5, and provided with a lower horizontal arm or portion 14, extending to the shaft 4 and having its terminal portions secured to the saine by the bolt 7, as clearly illustrated in Fig 3 of the drawing. rlhe rod or bar 12 stiffens and reinforces the supporting arm 5 and the vertical plate 1, and its upper end 15 is shaped similar to the upper end 11 of the shaft 4 and is adapted to receive a switch light 16, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The switch light swings through an are when it is carried from one position to the other, and when the 7itch target is arranged to expose the vertical plate 1, the latter and. the switch light are located at one side of the vertical shaft 4. By arranging the vertical plates 1 with their light supportiiigl rods or bars 12 alternately at opposite sides of the shaft 4 when in their exposed positions, the lights of two adjacent switches will occupy different positions and one will not interfere with or obscure the other when the vertical plates are in their exposed position.

ln order to effectually prevent both colors of a switch stand target from being' seen on approaching the saine when the target is arranged either on a curve or occupies a simi lar position, the horizontal wings are equipped at their outer ends with laterally extending plates 17, constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material provided at their inner edges with vertical attaching flanges 18, detachably secured to the side faces of the horizontal. wings by bolts 19 or other suitable fastening devices, Each wing is preferably provided with a pair of laterally extending plates 17. which are arranged in substantial parallelism with the vertical plate 1 and are painted to correspend therewith, so that when the wings are turned edgewise and the vertical plate 1 flat-'wise for exposing the latter, the laterally y tical plate l.

extending plates or shields will completely conceal and obscure from view the horizontal wings and the color thereof, so that the switch target even when viewed at an angle will present only the color of the ver- If desired the horizontal wings may be equipped at their outer ends with a single plate.V 17 extending from the side which obscures the color of the horizontal wings from view at the curve, but it is preferable to provide each wing with a pair of shields, which may be advantageously employed where the track is straight, as they will p-revent the color of the horizontal wings from being seen when the vertical plate is in its exposed position which might otherwise occur should the wings be accidentally bent or slightly deflected. The wings are pro-vided at their outer ends with perforations 2O to receive the bolts 19, and the detachable fastening of the shields enable the attachment to be used where desired.

While the improvements are shown applied to a low switch stand target for use in yards and similar places, they may be advantageously employed on regular switch stands used on main lines.

That is claimed is l. A switch target including a vertical shaft, a relatively narrow horizontal wing carried by the shaft and arranged in a vertical plane, and a vertical plate also carried by the shaft and arranged in a plane at right angles to that of the wing, said vertical plate being spaced from the shaft so as to be exposed at one side thereof, whereby the vertical plates of a plurality 'of switch targets may be alternately arranged at opposite sides of the shafts thereof so that the vertical plate of one switch target will not obscure the vertical plate of the other switch target.

2. A switch target including a vert-ical shaft, a relatively narrow horizontal wing carried by the shaft and arranged in a. vertical plane, and a vertical plate also carried by the shaft and arranged in a plane at right angles to that of the wing, said vertical plate being spaced from the shaft so as to be exposed at one side thereof, whereby the vertical plates of a plurality of switch targets may be alternately arranged at opposite sides of the shafts thereof so that the vertical plate of one switch target will not obscure the vertical plate of the other switch target, and means for supporting a switch light at the upper end of the vertical plate to cause the said switch light to swing through an arc when carried from one position to the other.

3. A switch target including a vertical shaft, relatively narrow horizontal ,wings extending from opposite sides of the shaft and arranged in a vertical plane, a rela tively long vertical plate carried by the shaft and arranged in a plane at right angles to that of the wings, said vertical plate being supported at one side of the vertical shaft when in its exposed position, whereby the vert-ical plates of a plurality of switch targets may `be alternately arranged at opposite sides of the shafts thereof so that the vertical plate of one switch target will not obscure the vertical plate of the other switch target.

t. A switch target including a. pivotally mounted relatively narrow horizontal wing, a relatively long vertical plate, and means for support-ing the vert-ical plate in spaced relation with the axis of the horizontal wing for exposing the said vertical plate at one side of such axis, whereby the vertical plates of a plurality of switch targets may be alternately arranged at opposite sides of the same when in their exposed positions.

5.'A switch target including a vertical shaft, a relatively narrow horizontal wing mounted on the shaft, a supporting arm extending from the shaft at right angles to the wing, and a relatively long vertical plate supported by the said arm so as to be exposed at one side of the shaft.

6. A switch target including a vertical shaft, a relatively narrow horizontal wing mounted on the shaftV and arranged in a vertical plane, an arm extending fromv the shaft at right angles to the wing, a vertical plate carried by the said arm and arranged in spaced relation with the shaft, and a vertical'rod or bar extending along the vertical plate and vhaving its upper terminal arf ranged to receive and support a switch light to cause the same to swing through an arc when carried from one position tof another, said rod being provided at the lower end with a horizontal portion extending along the said arm and secured to the vertical shaft.

7. A switch target including a vertical shaft, relatively narrow horizontal wings mounted on the shaft and arranged in a vertical plane, one of the wings being provided with a supporting arm extending from the shaft at right angles to the plane of the wings, and a relatively long vertical plate carried by the said supporting arm and adapted to be exposed at one side of the vertical shaft.

8. A switch target including a vertical plate, a relatively narrow horizontal wing arranged in a vertical plane at right angles to the plane of the vert-ical plate, and a shield projecting laterally from the wing and arranged to conceal the color thereof when the said wing is set in an edgewise position relative to the observer.

9. A switch target including a relatively long vert-ical plate, a relatively narrow horizontal wing' arranged in aY vertical plane at right angles to the plane of the vertical In testimony, thatIelaim the foregoing as plate, and plates secured to the Wing at the my own, I have hereto affixed my signature outer end thereof and projecting laterally in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

from the opposite faces of the same and ERASMUS R. TRAMMELL. 5 arranged to obscure the color thereof when Witnesses:

the said Wing is set in an edgewise position JOHN H. SIGGERS,

relative to the observer. DAVID R. WAGNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, ID. C. l 

